Stephana Colbert

Ordinary Extraordinary African American Women: The Elders, the most recent project of Oklahoma-based Jewell Jordan Publishing, is an illuminating collection of true and candid narratives celebrating African American women who have lived their ‘ordinary’ lives in an extraordinary way. [Text Box:] Often invisible and certainly undervalued, these women are the backbone of the African American community – as mothers, teachers, artists, businesswomen, trailblazers, activists, wives, friends, and confidants.  They have met challenges and overcome obstacles – taxing responsibilities, difficult decisions, glass ceilings, racism and hard times – while continuing to move forward, inspire, and achieve. This edition focuses on our Elders – women over 70 years of age – who share their journeys, reflections, and wisdom derived from a lifetime of challenges, successes, disappointments, and triumphs.  Here, we affirm that the stories of Black women are important and must be shared and celebrated.

Dr. E. Ethelbert Miller writes: "The hands of black women have held not just a race together but a world. The face of an elderly black woman is the face of history.
There is wisdom in this book. Every life a story. Every story pointing towards glory as if the North Star was being reborn again."